About the Book

An exploration of colourful collages influenced by autism and the natural world by award-winning environmental artist James Owen Thomas. Foreword by Monty Don.

Book Synopsis

An exploration of colourful collages influenced by autism and the natural world by award-winning environmental artist James Owen Thomas. Foreword by Monty Don.

James creates bold, engaging collages and montages from old lottery scratchcards and other used materials. His autism has an influence throughout his creative process, from gathering materials to sorting them by colour, visual theme and texture before hole-punching, tearing or cutting them up for collaging - it even affects the subjects he depicts. These are primarily peaceful, calming woodland settings and animals, but also branch out into architecture, portraiture and the surreal.

This beautifully illustrated examination of his work shows how his art and love for nature have helped him cope with autism from an early age, going on to explain the inspiration behind many of his pieces and the various techniques he uses. An emotive biographical section describes the many challenges of his autism and how he has worked through them - and with them - to become a successful artist and environmental campaigner.

Review Quotes

"Let's all take a lesson from this artist to stop and note the wonderful world we have been given. See the leaves not the trauma. There is a whole earth just waiting for us." --Ailish Henderson

About the Author

James Owen Thomas was born in Eastbourne in 2001. After being diagnosed with autism aged 4, he used art and nature as a medium of expression. He later developed a particular interest for art highlighting environmental issues such as single use products and, in his practice, encourages and inspires people to recycle and look forward to a more environmentally friendly future. James has been made an Ambassador for the Tree Council and UK Ambassador for the COP26.